EA025441B1 - System and method of producing a pepper's ghost illusion - Google Patents

Abstract

A method of producing a Pepper's Ghost Illusion comprising using a reflective and semi-transparent foil formed from a polymeric composite, the polymeric composite including a flame retardant.

Description

The present invention relates to a foil to create Pepper's ghostly illusion, and in particular to a transparent refractory foil to create Pepper's ghostly illusion. More specifically, the invention concerns a method for testing, coagulating, and storing and transporting a transparent refractory foil to create Pepper’s illusory illusion.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Video creation techniques are well known in the art and are generally used to create light effects in movies in the form of Pepper's ghostly images. Typically, a real object or image of an object is reflected by a partially reflective foil, which also allows it to be visible to the background. From the perspective of the viewer, the foil is invisible, and the reflected image appears in the form of a transparent ghost superimposed over the background.

The traditional foil used to create Pepper's ghostly illusion is made from plastic or plastic film. The preferred polymer is polyester, which is used for its excellent mechanical properties, which are improved by stretching the film during its production. Traditional plastic foil burns easily when exposed to an open flame, and melts at high temperatures. Therefore, traditional foil poses a security risk, and in the event of a fire, the foil can melt and cause a rapid spread of fire, and provide additional fuel to a fire that will be dangerous for people in the immediate vicinity of the foil, and can prevent their safe evacuation.

Accordingly, traditional foil should not be used as part of lighting equipment or scenes in musical or theatrical performances, television shows, nightclubs and other public places in which local, national or international fire safety regulations require the use of fire retardant materials. Moreover, the reaction of traditional foil to fire and heating can prevent the use of traditional foil in places where the foil may be in the vicinity of heat-generating lighting or other similar heat-generating equipment. This may prevent Pepper’s ghost device from being assembled in confined spaces in which the foil’s proximity to the lighting cannot be avoided.

In order to overcome this problem, manufacturers have added a refractory layer as an outer layer on the outside of the transparent foil after the foil has been extruded or produced. However, the use of the outer layer affects the optical properties of the transparent foil. In particular, the application of the outer layer can lead to milky misting, which makes the foil unsuitable for Pepper's ghostly illusion. To be effective in producing high-quality images, the foil must be largely transparent, creating little or no light scattering at all.

There are also problems associated with the current storage and transportation of the finished foil. Typically, the foil is stored by applying adhesive tape to the core of the roll and gluing the edge of the foil to the adhesive tape, and then winding the foil onto the core. However, the inventor has found that the adhesive tape causes a bulging protrusion on the foil, which is distributed in rolls of foil. This bulging protrusion leads to deformations in the foil when it is unwound, making it unsuitable for use in creating or producing Pepper's ghostly illusion, since the deformations / folds will be obvious to the viewer, distracting from the illusion. The foil should be largely wrinkled and have very good optical and mechanical properties.

A number of related problems appear due to the current methods of storing and transporting foil. As described above, when the edge of the foil is glued to the core of the roll, the foil is then wound onto the core under tension to prevent the adjacent foil surfaces from sticking during manufacture, an anti-sticking filler is added, which helps in preventing the sticking of adjacent layers. It was found, in particular for foils containing a flame retardant, that with the usual amount of filler against gluing, the misting of the foil is above acceptable levels of 5%. Such levels of misting again make the foil unsuitable for creating lighting effects and, in particular, for creating Pepper's ghostly illusion.

Accordingly, it is desirable to provide foil to create lighting effects and, in particular, to create Pepper’s ghostly illusion that has the required physical and optical properties, such as fireproof, to comply with local, national or international fire safety regulations and / or to make it possible to use foil in the vicinity fuel lighting or other similar heat equipment.

Summary of Invention

According to a first aspect, the present invention provides a method for creating a Pepper's ghostly illusion, comprising applying a reflective and transparent foil formed from a polymeric composite material, a polymeric composite material comprising a flame retardant.

- 1 025441

Passive fire protection is designed to protect elements of the structure during an adverse event from fire, as well as to protect certain elements from actual ignition. Safety standards are set within the framework of building codes and regulations, which almost all buildings must adhere to, these standards exist to guarantee the protection of life, and not to protect buildings. To meet these stringent standards, the present invention provides a refractory foil, such that Pepper’s ghostly illusion can be created at a location that must meet local, national or international fire safety regulations, or in which it may be used in proximity to heat-generating light or other similar heat-generating equipment. The refractory foil must also have the necessary optical properties necessary to create Pepper's ghostly illusion.

Preferably, the foil may have a misting of less than 10%, and alternatively or preferably less than 5%, and additionally as an alternative or additionally preferably less than 2%. The foil can be at least certified as fire-resistant according to the European class B rating according to Βδ ΕΝ 13823 and ΒδΕΝ 11925-2. Foil can be produced using a continuous extrusion process. The flame retardant may be added to the polymer composite material prior to the polymerization process. The flame retardant may contain monomer compounds of organic phosphorus, which is polymerized in the polymerization process. It will be understood that other suitable flame retardants can be used. For example, halogenated flame retardants, such as those containing brominated or chlorinated compounds. However, the applicant believes that the integration of flame retardants based on phosphorus into the foil structure is simpler than halogenated flame retardants. Other suitable flame retardants may be used, as long as the flame retardant can be largely and preferably completely dissolved in the polymer composite material to create an optically clean foil suitable for use in Pepper's ghostly illusion. The foil can be produced on a biaxially oriented polyethylene terephthalate (BORET) line.

According to a further aspect, the present invention provides a reflective and transparent foil formed from a polymer composite material containing a flame retardant compound of an organic phosphorus compound and without an ultraviolet stabilizer and / or any white pigment.

Foil can be produced using an extrusion process, and unlike traditional glass screens, the foil of the present invention is less likely to break and is less of a danger to a team installing it or working near the foil. Unlike glass screens, foil can be mounted on moving sets without fear of breaking it while it is being moved. This means that the process for moving the system to and from scenes on demand is very simple. Foil can be certified as flame retardant class B according to the standards of European fire tests.

Preferably, the foil may be at least certified as refractory by rating of European class B according to Βδ ΕΝ 13823 and ΒδΕΝ 11925-2. Foil can be produced using an extrusion process. The flame retardant may be added to the polymer composite material prior to the polymerization process. The flame retardant composition may contain a monomer and preferably a monomer of an organic phosphorus compound, which is polymerized in the polymerization process. The flame retardant may cause the refractory foil to have a misting of less than 10%, and as an alternative or preferably less than 5%, and additionally as an alternative or additionally preferably less than 2%. The foil can be made from a thin membrane containing a fire-retardant polyester film. The foil may contain polyester flame retardant foil produced on a biaxially oriented polyethylene terephthalate (BORET) line.

According to an additional aspect, the present invention provides a method for producing a partially reflective transparent foil for producing Pepper's ghostly illusion, a method comprising: adding a flame retardant to the monomer mixture prior to polymerizing, causing the monomer mixture comprising the flame retardant to polymerize, which will result in a polymeric structure; and the production of foil from a polymer structure using an extrusion process.

Adding a flame retardant to the monomer mixture prior to the polymerization process produces the final foil that meets the optical requirements that allow the foil to be applied in creating Pepper's ghostly illusion. For a foil that needs to be applied in creating this lighting effect, the misting of the foil is preferably below 2% of the misting.

Preferably, the manufacturing process may further comprise stretching the foil in order to improve the mechanical properties of the foil. The flame retardant may contain monomer containing organic phosphorus compound. The extrusion process may further comprise a biaxially oriented polyethylene terephthalate (BORET) line. Stretching the foil may comprise stretching the foil both in the longitudinal direction and in the transverse direction.

- 2 025441

According to another aspect, the present invention provides a method for producing a partially reflective transparent foil for use in creating lighting effects, a method comprising: adding an additive to the monomer mixture after a polymerization process, causing the mixture of polymerized monomer and the additive to result in a polymer structure; production of foil from a polymer structure using an extrusion process; and in which the additive in the final foil can be activated by an external source to create a lighting effect.

By adding an additive to the monomer after polymerization, and then allowing the additive to be activated by an external source to create a lighting effect, the requirements for additional lighting equipment are greatly reduced and the excellent optical and mechanical characteristics of the foil are still provided. This aspect of the invention provides a foil that can be applied more than just to create a real object or image of an object when reflected through a partially reflective foil, which also allows it to be visible to the background. This makes it possible to be activated by different backgrounds through the use of an additive or, at least, to provide variations in the background used.

Preferably, the additive may contain any of nano-particles, photosensitive materials, pigments or dyes. The external source may contain any of ultraviolet light, any type of light source, electricity, chemicals or temperature. The additive may additionally contain a photosensitive dye, which when activated by an external source creates the effect of lighting on the border of the foil, which resembles a trademark or watermark.

According to another aspect, the present invention provides a reflective and transparent foil for use in creating lighting effects, wherein the foil is formed from a polymer composite material containing an additive, and the additive in the polymer composite material can be activated by an external source to create a lighting effect.

Preferably, the foil can be used to create Pepper's ghostly illusion. Foil can be produced using a continuous extrusion process. The foil can be produced on a biaxially oriented polyethylene terephthalate (BORET) line.

According to another aspect, the present invention provides a method for treating reflective and transparent foils, a treatment comprising gluing the foil to the core around which the foil will be wound, in which the foil is attached to the core by spraying glue on the surface of the core.

In order to produce a foil that can be applied in Pepper's ghostly illusion, the foil must be largely creased. By spraying the glue on the core in order to secure the edge of the foil, the likelihood of the glue creating a protrusion or a convex portion, which can lead to folds or other deformations formed in the foil roll, is reduced. Accordingly, in one embodiment, the implementation of the adhesive is sprayed on the surface of the core in such a way that the adhesive does not create a significant protrusion in the foil. A significant protrusion is formed when there is no uniform distribution of glue on the core, and a protrusion is formed in the foil roll, which reduces the amount of foil on the roll, which can be used to create a lighting effect. A significant protrusion may be a protrusion that is formed in a foil that is more than 50% of the thickness of the foil. Typical foil thickness ranges from 24 to 120 microns.

According to another aspect, the present invention provides a method for treating reflective and transparent foils, a process comprising gluing the foil to the core around which the foil will be wound, in which the foil is attached to the core by applying glue to virtually the entire surface of the core, so that the glue does not create significant protrusion in coiled foil.

Preferably, the adhesive can be applied to the surface of the roll to form a uniform layer of glue covering virtually the entire surface of the core of uniform diameter.

By applying glue to the entire core, the probability of forming a large protrusion is further reduced, and therefore the mechanical and optical properties of the foil are improved by creating a foil with low opacity and, to a large extent, without folds.

According to another aspect, the present invention provides a method of processing foil for Pepper's ghostly illusion, a processing comprising producing a reflective and transparent foil and winding a foil on a core, in which the length of the foil wound on the core is a predetermined length based on the amount of filler against adhesion in the foil .

In another embodiment, the length of the foil on the roll also depends on the diameter of the core and the thickness of the foil. Preferably, the length of the foil on a roll is from 10 to 40 m, the diameter of the core is from 120 to 350 mm, and the thickness of the foil is from 24 to 120 μm.

By reducing the amount of foil that is wound on the core, a lighter and more manageable roll of foil is produced.

According to another aspect, the present invention provides a method for processing a foil, a processing comprising producing reflective and transparent foil and winding a foil onto a roll

- 3 025441 under tension, in which the amount of tension on the foil is limited to the creation of an internal voltage in the foil, which is in the range from 10 to 40% and preferably or as an alternative to less than 15% of the maximum plastic stress of the foil.

Reducing the amount of tension in the folded foil helps in the production of foil in which there is no deformation, and which has a good optical characteristic.

According to another aspect, the present invention provides a method for producing a reflective and transparent foil, a production comprising adding an anti-sticking filler as part of the foil extrusion process, and alternatively or preferably adding an anti-sticking filler to the polymer composite material prior to the polymerization process, in which bonding prevents bonding of adjacent foil surfaces.

To prevent the folded foil from sticking to adjacent surfaces, an anti-sticking filler is used, which prevents the sticking of adjacent surfaces. It has also been found that when a flame retardant additive is used, a reduced amount of filler should be applied, since applying the usual amount of filler increases the fogging percentage to an unacceptable level for the foil when used in creating Pepper's ghostly illusion.

By reducing the amount of filler against bonding, in order to obtain an acceptable amount of misting, it is also possible to reduce the amount of foil that is wound onto a roll. This makes it easier to move the roll, as well as easier handling of the foil on the roll. Subsequently, reducing the amount of foil on a roll also allows the amount of tension applied to the foil to be reduced when it is wound or unwound from the roll.

A further further advantage of reducing the amount of foil and the tension on the foil roll also makes it possible to spray the glue on the core to secure the edge of the foil. Spraying reduces the likelihood that the glue will create a protrusion or a convex portion that will result in folds or other deformations formed in the foil roll.

Preferably, the filler against adhesion may be calcium carbonate. The foil may be a flame retardant foil, and the amount of filler is reduced to produce a foil with a misting percentage of less than 10%, and preferably or alternatively less than 5%, and additionally preferably and additionally as an alternative less than 2%.

According to another aspect, the present invention provides a method for performing quality control testing of a reflective and transparent foil, a method comprising unwinding a portion of the foil from the core to another core and applying a tension to the unwound foil; passing the image through the foil and determining whether the foil reflects the image without significant distortion in order to test the optical quality of the foil.

Passing the image through the foil area and analyzing the resulting image formed on the projected surface is used to determine surface defects and is a comparative test. It does not measure the level of blurred background, but will detect optical contrasts. In this way, it will identify folds, marks appearing from extrusion dies, or rollers occurring on the machinery, and rapid changes in transparency. This is a good quality control test that can distinguish the good from the bad, but not the ultimate level of misting.

Preferably, the image may contain a number of rectangular color bars. To determine the optical quality of the foil, the transmitted image can be checked to see that the image is not deformed.

According to another aspect, the present invention provides a foil roll for creating Pepper's ghostly illusion, comprising a reflective and transparent foil formed from a polymer composite material, a polymer composite material comprising a flame retardant.

According to another aspect, the present invention provides a roll of reflective and transparent foil formed from a polymer composite material containing a flame retardant compound of an organic phosphorus compound and without an ultraviolet stabilizer and / or any white pigment.

According to another aspect, the present invention provides a roll of reflective and transparent foil to create Pepper's ghostly illusion containing a flame retardant compound added to the monomer mixture prior to polymerization, causing the monomer mixture comprising a flame retardant to polymerize to result in a polymeric structure; and in which the foil is made from a polymer structure using an extrusion process.

According to another aspect, the present invention provides a roll of reflective and transparent foil for use in creating lighting effects, in which the foil is formed from a polymer composite material containing an additive, in which the additive in the polymer composite

- 4 025441 material can be activated by an external source to create a lighting effect.

According to another aspect, the present invention provides a foil roll comprising a reflective and transparent foil wound around a core in which the foil is attached to the core by spraying glue on the surface of the core.

In another aspect, the present invention provides a foil roll, a roll comprising reflective and transparent foil glued to the core, around which a foil will be wound, in which the foil is attached to the core by applying glue to virtually the entire surface of the core, so that the glue does not create a significant protrusion in coiled foil.

According to another aspect, the present invention provides a method of processing foil for Pepper's ghostly illusion, a processing comprising producing a reflective and transparent foil and winding a foil on a core, in which the length of the foil wound on the core is a predetermined length based on the amount of filler against gluing in the foil .

In another embodiment, the length of the foil on the roll also depends on the diameter of the core and the thickness of the foil. Preferably, the length of the foil on a roll is from 10 to 40 m, the diameter of the core is from 120 to 350 mm, and the thickness of the foil is from 24 to 120 μm.

According to another aspect, the present invention provides a roll of foil comprising a reflective and transparent foil in which tension is applied to the foil on the roll, while the amount of tension applied to the roll of the foil is limited to creating an internal voltage in the foil that is in the range from 10 to 40%, and preferably or alternatively, less than 15% of the maximum plastic stress of the foil.

According to another aspect, the present invention provides a roll of foil containing reflective and transparent foil, a foil containing an anti-sticking filler added during the foil extrusion process, and alternatively or preferably an anti-sticking filler added to the polymer composite material prior to the polymerization process, wherein the anti-sticking filler prevents the adjacent foil surfaces from sticking together.

According to another aspect, the present invention provides a roll of reflective and transparent foil comprising performing a quality control test to determine the optical quality of the foil roll, a quality control test comprising unwinding a portion of the foil from the core under tension; passing the image through the foil to determine if the foil reflects the image without significant distortion.

A roll of foil is produced, which can be applied where local, national or international fire safety regulations require the use of fire retardant materials, or where it may be used in close proximity to heat-generating lighting or other similar heat-generating equipment. By removing the UV stabilizer and / or white pigment, a roll of foil is produced that meets the requirements for creating Pepper's ghostly illusion.

The various features of novelty that characterize the present invention are specified specifically in the claims appended to and form part of this disclosure. For a better understanding of the present invention, its operation, advantages and specific objectives achieved through its use, reference should be made to the accompanying drawings and textual material, in which preferred embodiments of the invention are illustrated and described.

Brief Description of the Drawings

FIG. 1 is a schematic of a foil according to an embodiment of the present invention used when the foil is suspended from a ceiling /

FIG. 2 is a schematic representation of a method for producing a refractory foil according to an embodiment of the present invention /

FIG. 3 is a schematic representation of Pepper's ghost illusion according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Description of the preferred option implementation

To be effective in producing high-quality images, the image to be projected onto the foil panel 10 and reflected should be projected as high-resolution video (ΗΌ), and if the projected image must be a human figure, then the mirror or foil 10 must be able create a full size image.

One of the requirements of the foil panel 10, which is required to produce a high-quality image for Pepper's ghostly illusion, is the purity of the foil 10. In order to create the illusion of good quality, the foil 10 should have a dimness of less than 10%, and preferably a dimness of less than 5%, and still further preferably a dimness less than 2%. This means that any foil 10 that has a blurred content of more than 10% is not suitable for creating Pepper's ghostly illusion. For example, any screen or foil 10 that shows a blurry image or some kind of blurred fogging that has a blurred content above 10% during production,

- 5 025441 makes foil unsuitable for Pepper's ghostly illusion. To be effective in producing high-quality images, an image that must be projected onto the foil panel 10 and reflected must be projected as high-resolution video (BUT).

As described above, blurred is the scattering of light by a film, which results in a hazy appearance or worse clarity of objects when viewed through the film. More formally, fogging is the percentage of light transmitted through the film, which deviates by more than 2.5 ° (degrees) from the direction of the incoming beam.

The blurred percentage is measured using a sample of the foil 10 (under tension), which is placed in the path of the light beam. The light that passes through the foil 10 enters the light-measuring ball, in which the photodetector measures the total light transmitted by the foil 10 and the amount of transmitted light that is scattered by more than 2.5 °. Blurred is the percentage of the total transmitted light, which is scattered by more than 2.5 °, and is calculated by the following equation:

T

Blurred% = - x 100 G,

G where T, | = diffuse transmitted light;

T = total transmitted light (T ₀ + Ta);

T ₀ = transmitted light that does not deflect by> 2.5 °.

In its most basic form, the reflective and transparent foil 10 is formed from a polymer composite material containing a flame retardant composition that produces a foil 10 that is suitable for use in creating lighting effects, and the foil 10 does not contain any UV stabilizers or any white pigments. Ultraviolet stabilizers and white pigments are removed to assist in the production of foil 10, which is capable of creating a lighting effect and, in particular, Pepper's ghostly illusion. For example, foil 10, which contains one or both of the UV stabilizer and the white pigment, cannot be used to create Pepper's ghostly illusion. The foil 10 is a refractory film produced using a phosphoric flame retardant that polymerizes into a polyester chain during the polymerization process. Flame retardant is non-halogenated and stationary. The refractory polyester is then processed into polyester foil on a biaxially oriented polyethylene terephthalate (BORET) line, on which material properties are improved. The process will be further described below.

A polymeric composite material is used to designate any of the combinations or structures that contain two or more materials, at least one of which is a polymer. By combining a polymer with another material, such as glass, carbon, or another polymer, it is often possible to obtain unique combinations or levels of properties. Typical examples of synthetic polymeric compounds include thermoplastic, reinforced with glass, carbon or polymeric fibers, or thermosetting resin, rubber, reinforced with carbon, polymer blends, resins, reinforced with quartz or mica.

The addition of flame retardant composition allows the refractory foil 10 to be applied as part of lighting equipment or scenes in musical or theatrical performances, television shows, nightclubs and other public places in which local, national or international fire safety regulations require the use of flame retardant materials. Also, such a fire retardant foil 10 can be used where it is possibly located in proximity to heat-generating light or other similar heat-generating equipment.

The transparent reflective foil 10 of the present invention is essentially a beam splitter. Experts in the field of technology of optical coatings will understand that many variations are possible for a transparent-reflective foil 10 regarding its base, coating and manufacturing process. A plastic or glass-based foil 10, as well as stretched polyester, has been successfully used for a transparent-reflective foil 10. The transparent-reflective foil 10 can vary from conventional mixtures of optical coatings on a transparent basis for excellent reflectivity and permeability to finished single-sided mirrors with unstable and poor optical properties. Also the reflectivity and permeability, as well as other optical properties of the transparent-reflective fire-retardant foil 10 can be adjusted as required.

The transparent reflective foil 10 must have substantial transparency in order to allow the camera to record a high-quality image from the opposite side and to allow the projected light to pass through without significant reflection. A quality image is necessary for Pepper's ghostly illusion. Pepper's Ghost is an illusionary technique used in the theater and in some tricks. Using mirror glass or film 10 and special lighting techniques, you can make it appear that objects appear or disappear, or make it appear that one object turns into another. The transparent reflective foil 10 should also be largely reflective, so that the high-quality image is reflected from the front projection screen. Anti-reflective coatings can be applied as needed to suppress unwanted reflections from any of the optical surfaces involved. On the back side of the transparent reflective foil 10, opposite to the viewing side, the anti-reflective coating can serve to eliminate the ghostly effect evident for many types of transparent reflective panels. Despite the many possible variations for the transparent reflective foil 10, the property of being both reflective and transparent remains the single most important constant.

One of the famous examples of the production of a transparent reflective foil 10 is to increase the pressure and lower the pressure on a thin plastic membrane of the desired shape. Through the use of a multi-layered panel having a curved reflective and transmissive face layer that can be produced by blowing a plastic membrane held in a frame and then sealed by a polyurethane layer supported by fiberglass to maintain the shape of a thin membrane during pressure build-up or pressure reduction using a pressure chamber . Obviously, there are other methods that can be applied to the production of the foil 10 without departing from the scope of the invention, the present method is used to provide an example of one of such methods.

As described above, the foil 10 is made from a refractory polyester film. Flammability is determined by how easily something will burn or ignite, causing a fire or a fire. The degree of difficulty required to cause a substance to ignite is quantified using a fire test. At the international level, there are many test protocols for measuring flammability. The ratings obtained are used in building codes and regulations, insurance requirements, fire safety rules and other rules governing the use of building materials, as well as the storage and handling of flammable substances inside and outside buildings, and during transportation by land and by air.

Materials may be tested for flammability and flammability in accordance with the standards of the respective countries. These include the relevant British Standard B δ 476 for testing passive fire protection systems, as well as some of its composite materials. In the European harmonization of standards for the classification of materials according to their refractoriness, the following classifications have been established:

A1 (non-flammable);

A2 (limited flammability);

AT;

WITH;

ABOUT;

E; or

P (not refractory).

To obtain a classification of high rating in products used for construction, two tests are necessary. To obtain a European class B product, it must pass one test for flammability according to Βδ 11925-2 and one test for combustibility of the element according to B δ 13823 for the product to be used in public places.

Preferably, the fire retardant foil 10 according to the present invention is certified as class B flame retardant. Therefore, the foil 10 can be used in any place where the B rating is required. The foil 10 is also certified according to the European class B rating according to Βδ ΕΝ 13823 and Βδ 11925-2. AI rating is νΤΜ-2. Since the material is relatively thin, it is classified according to IB 94 for thin materials (i.e. materials that can be wound around the core).

As shown in FIG. 1, a highly reflective and transparent foil 10 may be equipped or suspended in the form of panels or sheets, or parts, or fragments, with or without the use of a frame or other tightening devices (not shown). In its simplest form, one sheet of foil 10 can hang or be suspended freely or in a frame so as to be in the path of one or more light radiations. FIG. 1 shows a sheet of foil 10 suspended from the ceiling, illuminated by the light source 2 along the light path 3, so that light emitted from the device falls on the foil sheet 10, creating an image 4. A part of the light is passed through the foil 10 to another surface 5 along the light path b, creating an additional magnified image 8, and part of the light is reflected from the front of the foil 10 along the path 7 of the light. The number of applications for applicants who are under joint consideration, SP 2005/096095 for a projection device and method for Pepper’s ghostly illusion and EP 0808325.5 for a projection screen and method of its creation, are included in the materials of this application by reference. Relevant applications provide details of the frame and tensioning devices used to produce a screen without folds.

The ability to see the shape of beam 2 of light as it passes through the plane of the almost invisible foil 10 creates the impression of a two-dimensional projection using a screen that is invisible to the audience. This makes high-quality projection of light and images possible, since the very thin nature of highly reflective transparent foil 10 with a reflective coating of high optical quality will not create double reflections inside the image, such as when using glass, and does not allow the path of the light beam to be visible through the air, such as when a beam of light passes through smoke.

This characteristic is unique because it creates a high-quality image, but does not immediately identify the source of any light used to create an effect on the foil 10, so it is possible to hide the source and perplex the observers. Moreover, it eliminates the disadvantage experienced with traditional screens, which is that when the screen is not needed for viewing images, it must either be moved or removed in some way (for example, the screen moved on the rollers can be expanded) or it requires a lighting effect or a still image to be placed on it to avoid having an obvious empty surface visible to the audience.

In one example, the foil 10 may be held at any angle between 0 and 90 ° with respect to the mounting device, which may be located on or near the studio ceiling, or preferably at an angle of 45 ° to the mounting device in a frame with tension devices used to smooth the surface of the foil 10. A Pepper's ghost effect or illusion can be created, allowing the reflection of light rays to appear behind the foil 10. This is further described below and shown in FIG. 3

Additional effects can be created by light projected from different angles and transmitted, reflected and refracted by the foil 10 or a coating applied on one or both sides of the foil 10, or the active element contained within the foil 10. This can cause the creation of light rays of color other than parts of the original beam source, due to the prismatic effect on the incident light, and the wavelength components are separated in the same way as white light falls on a prism in such a way that a rainbow can be observed in the light coming out of the prisms s. This can also be created by deforming the foil 10 to cause the rays of light to be divided into rays of different colors.

The flame-retardant nature of the material makes it possible to place the foil 10 in places where non-flame-retardant products would be at risk, and the utmost ease makes it possible to install in positions that might not be available if the frame or beam were necessary to unfold the foil 10.

FIG. 2 shows a typical process 100 for producing polyester foil 10 on a biaxially oriented polyethylene terephthalate (BORET) line 110. The manufacturing process begins with the fact that the molten polyethylene terephthalate (PET) 120 is mixed with the monomer 130 before the polymerization process 140. The monomer 130 may be selected from one or more organic phosphorus compounds. It is the phosphorus-containing monomer 130 that gives the foil 10 a flame-retardant quality without degrading the optical characteristics of the foil 10. The introduction of monomer 130 during the polymerization process 140 means that the foil 10 retains the optical characteristics that are needed when the foil 10 is used in Pepper's ghostly illusion or to create any type of effect lighting.

The foil 10 is then extruded onto a cooling cylinder 160, which cools it sharply to a solid state. Then it is biaxially oriented by stretching. The most common way to do this is a sequential process in which the foil 10 is drawn first in the processing direction 170 using heated rollers and then drawn in the transverse direction 180, i.e. perpendicular to the direction of movement in the heated furnace 190. It is also possible to extrude the foil 10 in both directions at the same time, although the equipment required for this is somewhat more complicated. Extrusion ratios typically range from about 3 to 4 in each direction.

As soon as the stretching is complete, the foil 10 is heat-set or crystallized under tension in an oven at temperatures typically above 200 ° C. The heat setting step prevents the foil 10 from compressing to its original unstretched form and blocks the molecular orientation in the plane of the foil 10. The orientation of the polymer chains is responsible for the high strength and rigidity of the biaxially oriented PET film, which has a typical Young's modulus of about 4 GPa. Another important result of molecular orientation is that it causes the formation of many nuclei of crystallization. Growing crystallites quickly reach the boundary of neighboring crystallites and remain less than the wavelength of visible light. As a result, the biaxially oriented PET foil 10 has excellent purity, despite its semi-crystalline structure.

If it were made without any additives, the surface of the foil 10 would be so smooth that the layers would stick strongly to each other when the foil 10 is wound or unwound, like the sticking of clean plates stacked. In order to make control possible, microscopic inert inorganic particles or an anti-sticking filler are usually embedded or added to PET to make the surface of the foil 10 more coarse. This makes foil 10 ideal for use in creating Pepper's ghostly illusion. The foil 10 is wound from extrusion stretching furnace 190 on the steel main core (not shown). These cores weigh from 2 to 3 tons and can be up to 10 m in length. Foil 10 on the main cores that require

- 8 025441 mechanical lifting devices for controlling, then unwinding to lighter cores for transportation of foil from 10 to 40 m long. These cores are typically rolls of the same diameter and made of cardboard, but can also be made of carbon fiber or fiberglass composite materials. The core with the wound foil 10 weighs from 40 to 100 kg, and with only 40 m of foil 10 on a roll it is easy to manage.

It is also possible to include additional additives after the polymerization process in order to create a partially reflective transparent foil 10 capable of creating a lighting effect when activated by an external source. These additives may include nano-particles of light-sensitive materials, pigments or dyes. For example, another possible additive may be a photosensitive dye, which when activated by an external source creates the effect of lighting on the border of the foil 10, which resembles a trademark or watermark. This means that the manufacturer has an easy way to identify their product, by including the trademark of companies in the manufacturing process.

The lighting effect may simply be a transmission or reflection of the image, as described above with respect to Pepper's ghostly illusion. Also, as described above, the lighting effect can be created by light projected from different angles and transmitted, reflected and refracted by the foil 10 or the coating applied on one or both sides of the foil 10, or an active element, or an additive contained inside the foil 10. This may cause the creation of light rays of a color different from the part of the original source of the beam, due to the prismatic effect on the incident light.

Another type of lighting effect can be created when the additive in a polymer composite material is a layer of liquid crystals, which, when activated, is able to create a lighting effect. For example, liquid crystals are widely used in liquid crystal displays that rely on the optical properties of certain liquid crystal substances in the presence or absence of an electric field. In a typical device, a layer of liquid crystals (typically 10 μm thick) lies between two polarizers that are crossed (oriented at an angle of 90 ° to each other). The location of the liquid crystals is chosen in such a way that their unstressed phase is twisted (twisted nematic field effect). This twisted phase reorients the light that has passed through the first polarizer, making it possible for it to pass through the second polarizer (and reflected back to the observer if a reflector is provided). Thus, the device looks transparent. When an electric field is applied to the BC layer, the long molecular axes tend to align with the electric field, thus gradually straightening in the center of the liquid crystal layer. In this state, the HC molecules do not reorient the light, so that the light polarized in the first polarizer is absorbed in the second polarizer, and the device loses its transparency with increasing voltage. Thus, the electric field can be used to make switching pixels between transparent or opaque on command.

FIG. Figure 3 shows the use of foil 10 used to create Pepper's ghostly illusion. In this example, studio 52 is located remotely from the stage or theater 60. Studio 52 contains a section of a stage or a platform, or an elevator, forming the stage platform on which objects 40 or performers are positioned for better visibility. For example, a platform (elevator) 47 of a scene approximately 0.3 m in height extends across the entire width of studio 52 (usually 2.7 m if it is located at one end of the trailer, or 6-9 m wide if it is located in length across trailer). Preferably, a steel stage platform or similar material gives the subject 40 a spatial boundary for working inside it, and it should fit the size of a show or theater stage 60 or camera lens frame area 50, whichever is smaller. The bounds of the frame of the lens of the camera 50 should be explained to the subject being removed 40, and the marks visible to it should be set, and they should not be visible to the lens of the camera 50. Despite the fact that the height of the studio 52 should not coincide with the scene 60 of the show, the difference is significant figure when calculating the height of the camera 50. The stage platform also avoids the need to install the camera 50 on the studio floor in order to achieve the correct height.

Studio 52 is used to create video and audio presentations, while Studio 52 can enable real-time transmission of two-way interaction between two or more items 40 located remotely from each other. In order for Pepper's ghostly illusion to work, the viewer or public 38 should be able to view the main room or theater 60, but not the room with a hidden mirror or studio 52. The border of the foil 10 can be hidden by an elaborately designed image on the floor. In this case, the two rooms are located remotely from each other. Studio 52 is located remotely from the theater or the scene 60. Both rooms can be identical mirror images; This approach is useful to make it appear that objects appear and disappear, but it is not required that both rooms be identical if the room or studio 52 in which item 40 is located is completely black inside to not include anything other than item 40 , in a recorded image. This effect can also be used to create the impression that an actor reflected in foil 10 has turned into an actor behind foil 10 (or vice versa). This principle, which is the basis of the transformation of a girl into a gorilla, is used in many ghosts up to 9,025,441. The mirror room can instead be painted black (as was the case with studio 52) with objects of only light color in it. When light from light sources 51 falls on objects 40, they are strongly reflected in foil 10, causing them to appear as ghostly images 40 superimposed in a visible room or theater 60.

The illumination of the subject to be removed 40 may be of any type suitable for providing sufficient illumination for recording a high resolution image (ΗΌ). A number of lighting devices 51 are located in studio 52, suitable for presenting an immersive environment for audience 38 at a viewing point or theater 60, thus creating an exciting mix of color and contrast on stage and a properly lit live talent on stage and an audience for a sharp, realistic signaling and signaling to the audience.

FIG. 3 the lead or the subject 40 is behind the inclined reflective and transparent foil 10 onto which the image is projected, for example car 42. The position of the object or lead 40 behind the projected image has many inherent advantages over systems in which the lead 40 faces the screen, not the least which is that the lead 40 does not obstruct the projected image while moving along the projected image. Additionally, the use of oblique foil 10 causes the viewer or the public 38 of the image to perceive the image as having a depth rather than just a two-dimensional image, for example, when it is seen that the car 42 is spinning on a turntable. Projection of the image onto the partially reflective foil 10 in such a way that it is visible by the viewer 38 located in front of the screen is known as Pepper's Ghost illusion.

In the production of the foil 10, it is possible to improve or change the characteristics of the foil 10 by using additives or fillers added during the production of the foil 10. Adding additives or fillers can change the transparency and can be used to create different lighting effects. Another way to produce foil 10 to create different lighting effects is to use multilayer films. In general, multilayer films depend on the number of extruders that feed the film line. Each extruder provides one layer. For example, on line 110 BORET, three extruders are traditional, however, in FIG. 2 shows only one extruder 150, but there may be more. The advantage of the line 110 BORET for foil production is the line width and the improved mechanical properties of the foil 10.

Each of the extruders 150 may or may not contain a different polymer composition. Where the composition is similar, different extruders are used to increase line productivity. Most of the production of foil 10 is driven by applications requiring different formulations for each layer. The composition for different layers often contains pigments or dyes to change the color of the foil 10 or may contain additional additives or fillers to change the properties of the final product of the foil 10. A multilayer foil of 10 different colors and different color concentrations can be easily produced to create different lighting effects in addition to flame retardant properties.

Coatings used during the production of the foil or used after the production can also be used to change the color or transparency of the foil and again can help in creating different lighting effects. For example, 10 PET foil is often metallized under vacuum conditions on special-purpose machinery to ensure high levels of gas barriers. The same vacuum metallization process is also used to achieve special optical properties and metallic appearance for decorative use. Again, this technology can be used to design foils 10 to create special lighting effects. Aluminum is the most commonly used metal, but other metals can also be easily applied.

There are also two additional processes that can be used to produce the foil 10 for use in creating special lighting effects. These processes are blown foil and molded foil, which often uses 5 or b extruders to create a multilayer film. In the blown foil, the plastic resin is heated, and while it is still hot, the extruded tube is inflated like a balloon with compressed air. It stretches the plastic and makes it thin. The balloon is made long enough to allow the plastic to cool. The edges of the balloon are clamped together with rollers to keep the air inside and make the foil flat. The flat tube is then wound onto the main steel core. In molded foil, the polymer is squeezed between the rollers, cooled and wound, like a thin plastic sheet or film.

As described above, the foil 10 is wound from an extrusion stretching furnace 190 on the main steel core. In order to prevent adhesion of adjacent layers, a filler against adhesion is added either to the foil extrusion process or by adding an anti-bonding filler to the polymer composite material before the polymerization process. Initially, when the flame retardant was added to the foil 10 with a normal amount of filler against adhesion, the haze increased above the allowable level of 2%, so the amount of filler against adhesion had to be reduced to produce foil 10 for use in creating lighting effects and, in particular to create Pepper's ghostly illusion.

- 10 025441

The reduced amount of filler against bonding required to achieve a fogging percentage of less than 2% means that the length of the foil 10 on each main core should be reduced to 400 to 800 m. Due to the size of the roll of foil 10, mechanical devices are required on the main core lifting to control and manipulate the steel cores. The foil 10 is then unwound from the main steel core to lighter cores for storage / transport with a length of from 5 to 100 m, and preferably in the range from 10 to 40 m.

These transport cores are typically made of cardboard and weigh from 40 to 100 kg, and typically with just 40 m of foil 10 wound on the core for transportation, they are easy to manage. Transportation cores can also be made of carbon fiber or fiberglass composite materials. Cores for transportation vary in diameter from 120 to 350 mm. The diameter of the core for transportation and portions of the walls of the core are connected in order to minimize the deviation of the cores in the unwinding machines and for transportation.

As described above, in order to store and / or transport the final foil 10, the foil 10 is wound from the main core onto the core for transportation under tension. The tension of the foil is limited to the creation of an internal stress in the foil, which is in the range from 10 to 40% and preferably less than 15% of the maximum plastic stress of the foil. The core may be cylindrical or any other shape that allows the foil 10 to be stored safely. For example, a cardboard core with a smooth cylindrical surface may be used. Storage at the core for transport presents additional problems.

When the foil 10 is attached to the core for transport, the edge of the foil 10 is glued to the core. Traditionally, this glue is applied to the core with a line stretched across the core. This introduces a protrusion onto the surface of any foil 10 that is wound around the core. Due to the optical characteristics required for the foil (preferably fogging <2%), glue protrusion across the core is not an acceptable option.

To overcome this problem, glue is sprayed onto the surface of the core, or more preferably, the adhesive is applied to the entire surface of the cylindrical core, and the foil 10 is wound onto the core under tension. Increasing the surface area of the adhesive applied to the core means that a significant protrusion does not form on the foil 10. A typically significant protrusion is such a protrusion that is more than 50% of the foil thickness 10, for the foil 10, which has a thickness that will vary from 24 to 120 um This ensures that any foil 10 wound on the core (on a non-adhesive area) is largely wrinkled, and the final foil can be used to create Pepper’s illusory illusion. Accordingly, in one embodiment, the implementation of the adhesive is sprayed on the surface of the core in such a way that the adhesive does not create a significant protrusion in the foil. In a further embodiment, the foil 10 is glued to the core around which the foil 10 is wound. The foil 10 is attached to the core by applying glue to practically the entire surface of the core, so that the glue does not create a significant protrusion in the rolled foil 10. Therefore, the glue can be applied to the surface of the roll, to form a uniform layer of glue covering virtually the entire surface of the core to transport a uniform diameter.

The foil 10 is wound on the core for transport, and the roll of foil 10 is then stored or ready for transport. The size of the roll is limited to a reasonable size to allow easy movement and handling of the roll. For example, the amount of foil being wound onto a roll is typically in the range of 5 to 100 m, and preferably in the range of 10 to 40 m. In addition, reducing the size of the roll of foil 10 also makes it possible to reduce the tension applied to the foil 10. Foil tension limited to creating an internal stress in the foil, which is in the range from 10 to 40% and preferably less than 15% of the maximum stress of the plastic flow of the foil.

Reduced tension in combination with glue spraying onto the surface or the entire core for transportation means that the first few meters of the foil 10 are not suitable for use. Reducing the size of the actual amount of foil 10 wound on the cores also helps in reducing the effects mentioned above. However, the remaining foil 10, wound on the core, does not have a protrusion pressed into the surface of the foil 10 and therefore meets the optical requirements for producing foil 10 for use in creating lighting effects and, in particular, for producing foil 10 for use in Pepper's ghostly illusion.

Another problem presented by winding the foil 10 onto the cores (i.e. the main steel core and the core for transporting) is that the adjacent foil surfaces can stick together when the foil 10 is wound or unwound from the core. To prevent sticking of the foil 10 with the adjacent surfaces in the process of winding or unwinding from the cores, an anti-sticking filler is used. Adding an anti-sticking filler as part of the foil extrusion process or adding an anti-sticking filler to the polymer composite material prior to the polymerization process prevents the adjacent foil surfaces from sticking together.

- 11 025441

Calcium carbonate is typically used as a filler, but any known fillers that can be anti-sticking fillers can be used, and still provide the required optical and mechanical properties.

Also another problem that had to be overcome was that when the flame retardant was added to the foil 10 with a normal amount of filler against adhesion, the haze increased above the allowable level of 2%, so the amount of filler against adhesion had to be reduced for the production of foil 10 for use in creating lighting effects and, in particular, for creating Pepper's ghostly illusion.

Therefore, in order to produce a roll of foil 10 necessary for Pepper's ghostly illusion, the amount of filler against adhesion and the length of the foil wound on the core must be taken into account. When the foil 10 is wound on the core, the length of the foil wound on the core is a predetermined length based on the amount of filler against adhesion in the foil.

To test the optical performance, the foil 10 is unwound under tension. Mechanical tension ensures that the foil 10 is as flat and without folds as possible. The optical image is displayed using an amplified light source, and is projected through a reflective screen or reflected from the CEE wall. The amplified light source is used to show any distortion, such as the moray (rainbow of colors) of the projected image. Preferably, the image is a number of color bars that are passed through the foil.

10. The transmitted image is then checked for two components of the color bar image. First, the transmitted image is checked to see if a perfect rectangle is being formed, and second, whether the color bars are aligned vertically and horizontally. This optical test is used to determine surface defects, and is a comparative test. It does not measure the level of blurred background, but will detect optical contrasts. In this way, it will identify folds, marks appearing from extrusion dies, or rollers occurring on the machinery, and rapid changes in transparency. This is a good quality control test that can distinguish the good from the bad, but not the ultimate level of misting.

To determine and calculate the percentage of fogging in the test foil sheet 10, the following available tests can be applied. For example, the percentage of fogging can be measured by a method based on ΆδΤΜ-Ό 1003-52. It is also possible to use a turbidity meter, which is a tool for measuring the visibility or transmission of light through a medium. For example, the blurred percentage is measured using a sample of the foil 10 (under tension), which is placed on the path of a unidirectional beam of light that is directed to the sample 10 of the foil. After it enters the illuminating ball, the photodetector measures the total light transmitted by the foil 10 and the amount of transmitted light that is scattered by more than 2.5 °. Blurred is the percentage of the total transmitted light that deviates by more than 2.5 °.

As described above, the foil 10 is stored or transported at the core for transportation. In order to produce foil 10, which can be applied to Pepper's ghostly illusion, foil 10 must not fold or be damaged during storage. The roll of foil 10 consists of reflective and transparent foil 10. Foil 10 is formed from a polymer composite material containing monomer and preferably a flame retardant compound of an organic phosphorus compound. The foil 10 preferably does not contain a UV stabilizer and / or any white pigment.

The foil 10 is wound from extrusion stretching furnace 190 on the steel main core. These cores weigh from 2 to 3 tons and can be up to 10 m in length. The foil 10 on the main cores, which require mechanical lifting devices for control, is then unwound into lighter cores for the transport of foil 10 to 40 m long.

The foil 10 is attached to the core for transport by spraying glue onto the surface of the core. Glue should not create a raised area in coiled foil. If there is a raised area, it will overlap with the rest of the foil being wound 10 and makes the foil unsuitable for Pepper’s ghostly illusion. To make the foil roll more manageable, the amount of foil 10 wound onto the roll is reduced, and subsequently the amount of tension applied to the foil 10 when wound onto the core is also reduced. This ensures that the foil 10, wound onto a roll, does not have any deformations or folds, or is substantially free from deformations and folds.

To prevent the folded foil 10 from sticking to the adjacent surfaces of the foil 10, an anti-sticking filler is added as part of the extrusion process, or an anti-sticking filler is added to the polymer composite material prior to the polymerization process. This prevents the foil 10 from sticking to the adjacent surfaces of the foil 10 and prevents any kind of deformation formed in the foil 10. The amount of anti-sticking filler is also important, which is used, especially when the foil 10 includes a flame retardant. When the flame retardant was added to the foil 10 and a filler was added against bonding, this increased the percentage of fog in the roll of foil 10 to an unacceptable level. To create a ghostly illusion of Pepper, blurred <2% is needed. To ensure satisfaction of this figure, the amount of filler against bonding added to the foil 10 must be reduced.

In conclusion, the roll of foil 10 requires testing to ensure that the roll of foil 10 meets the required optical properties necessary for the foil to be used to create Pepper's ghostly illusion. Testing the quality control of the foil roll 10 is performed by unwinding a portion of the foil 10 under tension and passing the image through the foil to test the optical quality of the foil. The transmitted image determines the quality of the foil 10.

Although the present invention has been illustrated and described with respect to its exemplary embodiment, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that the above and various other changes, omissions and additions can be made to the materials of this application without departing from the scope of the invention. For this reason, the present invention should not be understood as being limited to the specific embodiment presented above, but should include all possible embodiments that can be implemented within the scope covered and its equivalents regarding the features presented in the attached claims.

Claims (18)

CLAIM 1. The Pepper’s ghost illusion system, comprising a roll of biaxially oriented, reflective and transparent foil in which the flame retardant is at least partially dissolved, the foil exhibits fogging of less than 10%; anti-adhesive filler added during the foil extrusion process so as to reduce the adhesion of the adjacent surfaces of the foil to each other. 2. The system of claim 1, wherein the foil exhibits fogging of less than 5%. 3. The system according to claim 1, in which the flame retardant is completely dissolved. 4. The system of claim 1, wherein the foil further comprises an antireflection coating. 5. The system of claim 1, wherein the foil exhibits fogging of less than 2%. 6. A method of creating a ghostly illusion of Pepper, comprising obtaining a system according to claim 1, comprising a roll of reflective and transparent foil containing a polyester film in which the flame retardant is at least partially dissolved; anti-adhesive filler added during the foil extrusion process so as to reduce the adhesion of the adjacent surfaces of the foil to each other; reflection of the image of the object in the foil so that the image appears like Pepper's ghost. 7. The method according to claim 6, in which upon receipt of the foil, the foil has a misting of less than 10%. 8. The method according to claim 6, in which the foil is at least certified fireproof according to the rating of European class B according to Βδ ΕΝ 13823 and ΒδΕΝ 11925-2. 9. The method according to claim 6, in which the production of reflective and transparent foil further comprises obtaining a flame retardant composition containing an organophosphorus monomer; polymerization of a flame retardant in the polymerization process. 10. The method according to claim 6, in which upon receipt of the foil, the foil is a biaxially oriented polyethylene terephthalate foil (BORET). 11. The method according to claim 6, in which upon receipt of the foil, the foil is formed from a monomer mixture containing neither an ultraviolet stabilizer nor a white pigment. 12. The method according to claim 6, in which upon receipt of the foil, the foil is formed during the polymerization of a monomer mixture containing a flame retardant. 13. The method according to claim 6, in which upon receipt of the foil, the foil is wound on the core, and the foil is connected to the core by spraying glue on the surface of the core. 14. The method according to item 13, in which the foil is connected to the core by applying glue to almost the entire surface of the core, so that the glue does not create a significant protrusion in the wound foil. 15. The method according to claim 6, in which the foil in the roll is pulled so that the internal stress in the foil is in the range from 10 to 40% of the ultimate stress of the plastic flow of the foil. 16. The method according to claim 6, in which upon receipt of the foil, the fire retardant composition is completely dissolved in it. 17. The method according to claim 6, in which upon receipt of the foil, the foil has a misting of less than 5%. 18. The method according to claim 6, in which, upon receipt of the foil, the foil with a flame retardant composition and an anti-adhesive filler has a misting of less than 2%.